Queen Cutlery quality history?

dsutton24

dsutton24

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I've seen a lot of references to poor quality Queen knives of late. Are the quality issues folks have noted due to problems near the end of Queen's existence, and / or knives being assembled from parts? Or has Queen's quality always been variable?

I've got a number of Queen knives, but not enough of them to get an idea of their historic quality. The knives I've had for a few years are uniformly good, and I can't remember rejecting any Queens that had problems.

I'm sure there are a number of Queen collectors out there. What can you tell me?
 
I have owned dozens of Queen/S&M knives made from the early 1990s until the recent closing. Bill Howard, who now is the head of GEC, was in charge at Queen until 2006, when he and Ken Daniels started GEC. In 2012 Ken Daniels sold his portion of GEC to Bill Howard, and bought Queen Cutlery. Shortly after this Queen's knives began being stamped DFC, for Daniels Family Cutlery, but still carried the Queen or S&M branding. Many people make a big deal out of "pre DFC" knives having better quality. But the quality started to slip not long after Bill Howard left in 2006. From my experience, knives from the early '90s through about 2008 were nearly always of very high quality. From 2008 to the closing they gradually went down to the point where you might or might not get a good one.
 
The quality issues of major concern are something of a recent problem. Queen probably had minor quality issues as with any manufactured product during their existence. Queen Cutlery have made some very fine knives over the years, along with the recent since 1992 Schatt &Morgan offerings. I have some Queen pocket knives made during the 1950’s up to others made right up to 2008 or so. A farely large group of Schatt and Morgan’s as well. In my opinion these knives are some of the best quality money could buy. Such a shame to see Queen Cutlery fold as they have, although due to the latest quality, it was only a matter of time.
 
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once upon a time they were great. just ask @knowtracks he's a schatt junkie! but somethings were not meant to last. eventually they folded and just the name lived on, they lived on reputation some would say. the last of their glory days might have been during the Bill Howard years before he moved on to start GEC. after that, their days were numbered. the last of their stuff was hit or miss, there are several threads documenting the appalling excuse they call q/c
 
black mamba black mamba My experience mirrors Jeff's here. Get a Queen made knife say 1980s (think Black Box Winchesters) or the D2 range before 2008 and they are nearly all of excellent quality and a knife you are well pleased to own. After that and with the DFC era the quality was all over the place, not always poor as I have a Queen made Trestle Pine that is excellent all round, but others that are embarrassingly poor- prices rose towards the end and this was the final straw.
 
This thread reminds me that although I was 46 years old when I joined my first knife forum, I had never heard of Queen Cutlery before then. I was shocked that they had been making knives for 85 years and I never crossed paths with the brand. How in the heck did that happen!?

My only experience with Queen after that is 2003 and later models and I agree with what has been said so far. I think I'll make my next purchase a pre-war Queen just to check out the older stuff.
 
I've bought and sold a lot of vintage pre 1980's Queen's and I really can say I've never found a "bad" example of one. Either the bad ones have been lost to time, or their quality/inspection was more thorough.

I own quite a lot of Tuna Valley knives made by Queen, and their quality is top notch. Queen was definitely capable of having quality that is on par with anyone else, it just seems it wasn't for 100% of their knives.

Railsplitter said:
This thread reminds me that although I was 46 years old when I joined my first knife forum, I had never heard of Queen Cutlery before then. I was shocked that they had been making knives for 85 years and I never crossed paths with the brand. How in the heck did that happen!?
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Queen didn't market their knives very heavily across the NorthEast US, or the West Coast. Maybe too much competition with Schrade and Case and other makers. My grandfather was a Queen sales manager in the mid-late 70's and very early 80's, and he said that most of their knives were sold in Tennessee, and in the Gulf states down south. And a lot of their sales were over seas, in Africa, and South America.
 
Rookie82 said:
I've bought and sold a lot of vintage pre 1980's Queen's and I really can say I've never found a "bad" example of one. Either the bad ones have been lost to time, or their quality/inspection was more thorough.

I own quite a lot of Tuna Valley knives made by Queen, and their quality is top notch. Queen was definitely capable of having quality that is on par with anyone else, it just seems it wasn't for 100% of their knives.



Queen didn't market their knives very heavily across the NorthEast US, or the West Coast. Maybe too much competition with Schrade and Case and other makers. My grandfather was a Queen sales manager in the mid-late 70's and very early 80's, and he said that most of their knives were sold in Tennessee, and in the Gulf states down south. And a lot of their sales were over seas, in Africa, and South America.
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Interesting stuff. Thank you.
 
for example, here are my last surviving queen/ s&m knives in the collection

in no particular order of purchase, except remembering the amber stag and the smooth bone being the latest to join due to impulse. and the amber stag i bought twice thinking id have one as a user but the pin fell off out of the box.

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the big hunter I believe I bought one for a friend here as well, but the winterbottom bone cracked on one and it had to go back. happened with one of their 69 barlows too that went back to dealer.

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the smooth amber bone was probably from the end of shop/closing time period... but the gap, and the bone. the pull is ridiculous almost. they were all over the place. and that is why most folks will advise tread carefully when buying online.
 
I appreciate the input, thanks fellas.

The first Queen that I bought was a little Schatt & Morgan whittler, and I remember thinking it was a gem. I'd seen Queen knives around, and they were always expensive, and always nice knives. I've bought a couple of dogs recently due to Tang Stamp Fever, I'll have to add Queen to the list of knives that get extra scrutiny before buying these days.
 
Never owned a Queen until after Ken Daniels purchased it. I have seen generally good quality from them overall with some that should not of passed their inspections. Mostly it has been a sharpness issue for me. The comment above about not buying on line was what I have said about normal Case slip joints. I only buy them in person and usually pay a little more as a result. All of my Queens/S&M's have been purchased online with the exception of one I bought off Ken Daniels at the Blade Show a few years back.
 
Sorry to dig up an old post. I am new to traditionals and I am currently weaving my way through the brands.I just purchased to Queen knives. One was a heritage and one is an S&M easy open. They both have horrible QC and I feel a little burned. I read up about the issues first so it's my fault. One thing has me really puzzled thought. The S&M easy open has what appears to be a thick washer on one side of the pivot. The tang appears to be much thinner than the back spring and it looks like they just threw a small washer on the pivot to fix blade play. Has anyone else seen anything like this?
 
Kabart7819 said:
Sorry to dig up an old post. I am new to traditionals and I am currently weaving my way through the brands.I just purchased to Queen knives. One was a heritage and one is an S&M easy open. They both have horrible QC and I feel a little burned. I read up about the issues first so it's my fault. One thing has me really puzzled thought. The S&M easy open has what appears to be a thick washer on one side of the pivot. The tang appears to be much thinner than the back spring and it looks like they just threw a small washer on the pivot to fix blade play. Has anyone else seen anything like this?
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Two not to (sorry)
 
would love to see a pic of that funky easy open. would not put much past them near the end. total shame.
 
Ramrodmb said:
How does it stack up QC wise?
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one of the better ones that I have accumulated. centering pretty dead on, gap in the shield area, some polishing flat spots on the micarta. this how is the first micarta schatt and morgan to join the bunch. usually buy bone/wood/stag offerings. currently considering the other offering in oak actually
 
Hi, I am new to Queen cutlery knives. Can somebody explain the difference between #26 stockman and Dan Burke medium stockman? What makes it a Dan Burke stockman besides winterbottom bone handles, DB tangstamp and inferior (12C27 vs D2) steel?
 
SnailOffTheTrail said:
Hi, I am new to Queen cutlery knives. Can somebody explain the difference between #26 stockman and Dan Burke medium stockman? What makes it a Dan Burke stockman besides winterbottom bone handles, DB tangstamp and inferior (12C27 vs D2) steel?
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I can't answer the specifics of your question. But I do wonder, why do you consider 12C27 to be an inferior knife steel?
 
dsutton24 said:
I can't answer the specifics of your question. But I do wonder, why do you consider 12C27 to be an inferior knife steel?
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There might bee too many shortcuts in my thinking but sandvik 12c27 = any stainless Mora for ≈10$, D2 = more expensive knives, not too long ago top steel, when done correctly good edge holding.

Edit: Check Cedric and Ada steel test result sheet. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1b_rNfdJnL9oyn-JoL9yUHhUmDLAP1hJ1dN_0q5G4tug/htmlview#

12C27 holds an edge on average for 81 cuts of rope (with highest result of 88 cuts), while D2 holds it for 142 cuts on average with best score as high as 340 cuts.
 
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